Historical triumph: ‘Mapped!’ closes on a high note

The ‘Mapped!’ exhibition, meticulously curated by the Rotary Club of Bombay’s Urban Heritage Committee (UHC), ended on a spectacular note. Visitor numbers skyrocketed in the final week, with daily counts regularly surpassing a hundred and reaching over 500 in the final three days.

The month-long exhibition attracted a diverse group of city residents, from history enthusiasts to young students, by offering a rare opportunity to engage with historical maps and archival records.

The closing ceremony on June 3rd, 2023, was a well-attended affair, with Dr. Mariam Dossal, a distinguished city historian and former Head of the Department of History at the University of Mumbai, delivering a special address. The event was also honoured by the presence of Dr. P.S. Rawat, the greatgrandson of Pundit Nain Singh, a noted explorer from the 1860s.

Renu Basu, UHC Chairperson, warmly welcomed the guests, expressed gratitude towards the Tata Group for their support, and acknowledged the hard work of everyone involved in the exhibition. She was later joined by PP Framroze Mehta to present a completed bound volume of the Cartographic Conservation Project Report to Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, VP, Asiatic Society of Mumbai (ASM). The handover marked a significant milestone in a project that started in 2019 to preserve some of the rare treasures from ASM’s map collection.

Deepti Anand, co-founder of Past Perfect Heritage Management, narrated anecdotes from the exhibition, and Dr. Rawat shared his personal appreciation for the recognition given to the work of the Pundits.

The highlight of the evening was Dr. Dossal’s insightful address about the First Bombay Revenue Survey by Thomas Dickenson. Her knowledge greatly enriched the understanding of the maps on display for the audience.

On the final day of the exhibition, the Durbar Hall at ASM saw nearly a thousand visitors, including individuals from various walks of life. ‘Mapped!’ received coverage from news channels, print media, and social media influencers, making it a memorable event in the city’s cultural calendar.

As the curtain fell on ‘Mapped!’, the Rotary Club of Bombay expressed its gratitude for the opportunity to facilitate such a significant event and looked forward to future endeavours that contribute to the appreciation of the city’s rich heritage.